Plant tulip bulbs from October to mid-December, once the weather has cooled. Until then, store them somewhere cool, dry and safely away from mice and squirrels.
'Mara'
Tulip 'Mara' is a captivating species tulip of the aucheriana type, admired for its low-growing habit and naturally graceful presence. Each stem of Tulip 'Mara' produces multiple slender, pointed flowers, creating a light, airy display that feels entirely at ease in relaxed plantings. The blooms glow in rich shades of dark red to orange-red, their intensity softened by a subtle green tint on the outer petals. As Tulip aucheriana 'Mara' begins to open, this interplay of colour adds depth and quiet intrigue, offering beauty at every stage of flowering.
As a low-growing botanical tulip, Tulip 'Mara' is particularly well suited to rockeries, gravel gardens and containers, where its fine detail can be appreciated up close. Tulip 'Mara' thrives in well-drained soil and, once established, is ideal for naturalising, returning reliably and often increasing over time. When the sun coaxes the flowers fully open, their warm tones become more luminous, drawing in early pollinators and lifting the surrounding planting. Tulip aucheriana 'Mara' brings a refined, natural elegance to the spring garden, weaving rich colour into even the smallest spaces.
Quantity
Plant profile
Plant calendar
Choose full sun or partial shade. Improve heavy soil with organic matter and horticultural grit. For containers, use peat-free multipurpose compost with good drainage.
Plant bulbs pointed side upwards, 15–20cm deep and around 10cm apart. You can leave a little more space between them in borders.
Water once after planting to settle the soil. Border-grown tulips rarely need further watering, but containers should be kept lightly moist and never waterlogged.
Remove faded flowers, then allow the foliage to yellow and die back naturally. This helps the bulbs store energy for the following year.
- Botanical name
- Tulipa aucheriana 'Mara'
- Tulip group
- Species or Botanical (15)
- Flower colour
- Orange-red
- Bulb size
- 6/8
- Established height
- 10-20cm
- Established spread
- 5-10cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
- Upright
- Hardiness
- Fully hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- No
- Plant spacing
- 100 bulbs per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- No
- Position
-
Sheltered
Exposed - Rabbit resistant
- No
- Scented
- No
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
- Free draining
- Soil type
-
Loam
Sandy
Stony
Multipurpose compost
Loam-based compost - Suitable for
-
Pots
Large containers
Borders
lawns
Gravel gardens
Coastal gardens
Rockery
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens - Sunlight
-
Full sun
Partial shade - Toxicity
-
Harmful if eaten
Skin/eyes irritant - Years to establish
- 1st year
Expert care from
choice to delivery
Our horticulturalists prepare every bulb and plant with the utmost care. From selection to packing, each one receives expert attention before beginning its journey to your garden.